Czech Government Scholarships 2027-2028: Fully Funded Master’s & PhD in the Czech Republic
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Government of the Czech Republic Scholarships (Foreign Development Assistance programme) |
| Funded by | Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports + Ministry of Foreign Affairs (administered by DZS — House of Foreign Cooperation) |
| Coverage | Tuition at Czech public universities + monthly living allowance + Czech language preparation (Czech-medium tracks) |
| Levels | Follow-up Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) programmes |
| Languages | Czech or English |
| Deadline | September 30, 2026 (for the 2027/2028 academic year) |
| Official site | dzs.cz → “Study Opportunities for Foreigners in the CR” |
The Czech Government Scholarship is one of Central Europe’s most generous development-aid scholarships — and one of the easiest to miss because the window is short. Applications for the 2027/2028 academic year open in summer 2026 and close on September 30, 2026. If you are a national of one of the eligible developing countries, this is a real chance to complete a full degree in the Czech Republic with no tuition fees and a monthly allowance.
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What Does It Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Tuition | Fully covered at Czech public universities for the standard length of study |
| Monthly allowance | Living allowance set by the Ministry of Education (recent cycles ≈ CZK 14,000–15,000/month — verify the current rate in the call guidelines) |
| Language preparation | One-year Czech language and professional training course before Czech-medium Master’s study |
| Programme scope | Standard period of study in Follow-up Master’s or Doctoral programmes |
What it does NOT typically cover: international airfare to the Czech Republic, visa fees, and dependents’ costs — check the current call guidelines for exact terms.
Two study tracks exist:
1. English-medium Master’s and PhD programmes — you start your degree directly.
2. Czech-medium Master’s programmes — preceded by a one-year Czech language and professional training course at the Institute for Language and Preparatory Studies. If you already hold B2-level Czech (CEFR), you can skip the prep year and apply straight to a Czech-medium programme.
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Eligibility (✅/❌ checklist)
✅ You Must:
- Be a citizen of one of the countries on the official list for the 2027/2028 call. The 2026/2027 list (published by DZS) was: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Jordan — the 2027/2028 list is expected to be similar; confirm it on dzs.cz when the call opens.
- Not have permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
- For Master’s: hold a completed Bachelor’s degree (or be in your final year).
- For PhD: hold a Master’s degree and have a research plan aligned with a Czech public university.
- Submit the electronic application form at registr.dzs.cz before the deadline and complete the required tests.
❌ Not Eligible If:
- Your country is not on the current call’s list.
- You already hold permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
- You apply for summer language courses (explicitly excluded).
- You submit after the September 30, 2026 deadline — no late applications are accepted.
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How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm your country is on the list
Check dzs.cz when the 2027/2028 call opens (typically mid-July 2026) and confirm your country is included.
Step 2: Register and fill the electronic form
Go to registr.dzs.cz and complete the electronic application form. You can register only once and submit only one application.
Step 3: Take the online tests
Your application is complete only after you pass the general knowledge test and — if you apply for English-medium study — the English language test.
Step 4: Attend the embassy interview
Shortlisted candidates are invited for an interview at the Czech Embassy responsible for your country.
Step 5: Submit full documentation
Successful candidates are asked to submit complete documentation by the deadline set by the embassy (all documents must reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by December 31, 2026).
Step 6: Wait for the decision
Scholarship decisions are delivered through the respective Czech Embassy by the end of June 2027.
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Insider Tips
1. Apply in the first two weeks the portal opens
The window runs roughly 10 weeks, but the registr system gets busy near the deadline. Early submission also gives you time to fix incomplete entries.
2. Prepare seriously for the general knowledge test
The test is a real filter. Practice Czech geography, history, culture and current affairs — past applicants consistently report this is where candidates are separated.
3. Choose your track deliberately
- English-medium = faster start, but fewer programmes.
- Czech-medium = adds a prep year but opens more programmes and is an edge for integration and jobs after graduation.
- Already B2 Czech? Apply for direct Czech-medium admission and skip the prep year.
4. For PhD, contact supervisors before applying
Czech doctoral admission is supervisor-driven. Email potential supervisors at public universities (Charles University, Masaryk University, Czech Technical University, Palacký University Olomouc…) before you submit — a supportive supervisor massively improves your odds.
5. Budget for the uncovered costs
The scholarship covers tuition + living allowance, but you’ll likely pay for the flight and visa. Czech living costs are moderate (≈ CZK 15,000–20,000/month outside Prague), and the allowance covers a solid share.
6. Watch your embassy’s internal deadline
The official deadline is September 30, but embassies may set earlier documentation deadlines for interviews. Don’t plan to submit on the last day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Czech Government Scholarship fully funded?
It covers tuition at public universities plus a monthly living allowance, and for Czech-medium tracks a full language prep year. International travel and visa costs are generally not included — treat it as “fully funded for study, partial for logistics.”
Do I need to speak Czech?
No. English-medium Master’s and PhD programmes are available. Czech is only required for the Czech-medium track (B2 level, or you take the one-year prep course).
Which countries are eligible?
The 2026/2027 call covered: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus (democratic forces), Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Guatemala, Jordan. The 2027/2028 list is published when the call opens — always verify on dzs.cz.
Can I apply if I’m already studying in the Czech Republic?
Yes, but through a special procedure: you submit documentation directly to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by late December and skip the embassy interview.
When will I hear back?
Successful applicants are notified through their embassy by the end of June 2027, with study starting September 2027 (English) or September 2028 (Czech-medium after the prep year).
Is there an age limit?
DZS does not publish a general age limit for this programme — confirm the current call guidelines.
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Timeline Table
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Call opens (2027/2028) | Summer 2026 (typically ~July 20) |
| Electronic application deadline | September 30, 2026 |
| Tests & embassy interviews | October – November 2026 |
| Documentation deadline (MFA) | December 31, 2026 |
| Scholarship decisions | End of June 2027 |
| Study starts (English-medium) | September 2027 |
| Prep year → Czech-medium study | September 2027 → September 2028 |
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Your Action Plan
1. Today: Check dzs.cz for the 2027/2028 call and confirm your country is listed.
2. This week: If you’re a PhD applicant, start contacting supervisors at Czech public universities.
3. Before the deadline: Register at registr.dzs.cz, prepare for the general knowledge test (and English test if applying English-medium).
4. By September 30, 2026: Submit your complete electronic application — don’t wait for the last day.
5. October–November: Prepare for the embassy interview and gather transcripts, diplomas and letters.
Share this with someone from an eligible country who deserves a free degree in Europe.
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